Wake Up and Cook: Kitchen Buddhism in Words and Recipes,
Ed. by Carole Tonkinson

Reviewed by Penny Spokes

Booklist
Vol.93 No.9-10
Jan 1, 1997
p.802

COPYRIGHT 1997 American Library Association 

            More than a cookbook, this book explores food and cooking in 
            Buddhist teachings, symbols, metaphors, monastic ritual, and 
            festivals. Well-chosen commentary, meal blessings a nd prayers, or 
            short excerpts from texts of all Buddhist traditions preface each 
            chapter's recipes. Editor Tonkinson encourages readers to "read them 
            simply as a set of instructions how to cook a meal or as guidelines 
            on how to cook your life." The loosely themed recipes are not all 
            vegetarian, though Buddhist views on vegetarianism are amply 
            discussed. Some dishes are hearty and plain; others are high in 
            sugar or fat. But who ca n resist reading a recipe poem by Gary 
            Snyder or "A Recipe for Cleaning the Mind" by an American Zen 
            master, or learning about monastery fare or how to make Tibetan 
            butter tea? All texts and recipes are credited for easy follow-up. A 
            thoughtful cookbook for the ordinary, everyday activity of cooking 
            and eating as an example of the interconnectedness of all life.